St. Landry democrat., 1887-08-13
FOR THE BLIND.
WORK OF A PRINCE AND HIS WIFE
AMONG THEIR PEOPLE.

Out OF Their wealth They Maintain Hos
pital for Diseases of the Eye-Each a
Medical Expert-A Trip Through the
Dukes Wards-The Labor of the Duchess.
Prince Charles of Bavaria and his wife
are peculiar royalties, for they are enthusi
astically self-sacrificing in the interest Of
their people. Both have studied medicine
and surgery, especially what relates to the
evesight, and out of their wealth established
and maintain hospital for the blind. 1t is
to the relief of such sufferers that Duke
Charles Theodore offers his time, money and
skill. In this beneticent cause he is most
efficiently seconded by his young and cour-
ageous wife. Married at the early age of sew
enteen, she has qualified herself under her
husbands direction for the treatment of dis
ease; and, although an innate votary Of
cleanliness and freshness, accepts perpetual
contact with dirt and poverty, and never
shrinks from the most loathsome sights
and smells; whilst he, animated with
a love of incessant work and increas-
ing knowledge, introduces into his
hospital at Tegernsee the latest scientific dis
coveries of the healing art which he learns
each year in Munich and Vienna At Tegern-
see, some thirty miles southeast of Munich,
the palace stands on the eastern shore OF the
broad lake. environed by the village. 1t was
until 1903 famous Benedlctlne monastery,
with a long line of aDbOts extending over
thousand years. The duke and duchess
spend great part of each year on this estate,
carefully watching over the training of their
bright and happy children; often surrounded
by other merry little folks and their parents,
all closely attached relatives gathered to-
gether for the celebration of beautiful family
festivals. But whist enjoying an ideal
domestic life. they never forget their sick, to
whom they daily minister in their hospital.
1t is situated at quarter Of an hours walk
from the palace, and is served by Sisters OF
Charity.
Let us, says writer in an English maya
zine, ''now suppose ourselves privileged to
enter the dukes wards. At half-past six A.
NJ, we find the two spacious, usually cheer
full southern rooms in that state of obscurlty
in which they must now be kept even at
the brightest noon. In the first the two
opposite rows of beds contain recumbent,
mOtionless male figures. with bandaged
heads in the hospital dressing-gowns, made
cf red and white striped ticking. The second
and inner room has similar arrangement
of bandaged females in white bed-gOwns.
In both wards the black board affixed above
each bed. announcing the case under treat
ment. almost universally has in white chalk
the word STAR (cataraCt.) From want OF
space several male and female patients are
propped up with cushions in arm-chars. All
need a great deal of help particularly the
freshly operated upon, who are forbidden
to stir hand or foot. or lift the head when
taking food; or in the most important cases
to move the jaw in masticatiUn. The Sister
of Charity in charge is completing the ardu-
Gus administration of coffee and bread to
each, when the door opens. and gentleman
enters, carrying case OF instruments. Inc
duke-tor it is he-quietly asks for a lighted
candle. which the sister holds. and begins his
round from bed to bed, unbandaging the eyes,
carefully examining and dressing them. 1t Is
a noted fact that the blind man in his isolated
condition feels the need of friend and con-
tidant much more than the seeing Usually
nothing is so unpleasant to him as to be quite
alone for he then realizes to the full the diff
Guilty of his position; and he clings with body
and soul to those who are genuinely kind to
II m. Thus these poor patients, separated
rom their kinsfolk and acquaintance and
dependent on the duke pour into his at
tcntive ear the story of their maladles, their
homes and fea1s even on quite irrelevant but
t. them most weighty subjects. Whilst
thus employed Systematically making his
round, DR.. Tausch, his assistant, a good
hume red. clever young physician from
WurZburg. appears; for his royal hlghness
being very early riser and Unsuitable in his
vocation, often arrives before the time he
has fixed. With the help of this coadju-
tor the work of examination and bandaglng
goes on ever more rapidly, and the thirty
or forty patients are all attended to by
eight o clock. At this hour, applicants whom
the prince has appointed to come to the hos
pital for operation, are ranged in the ada
cent corridor. Some sit on bench, some
stand. male and female, from the Octogena-
rian to the infant in arms. from the we'll
clad to the tatterdemalion. The slim, grace
ful figure of the duchess now approaches
with uuiek elastic tread &ng the passage.
She hodS little basket fi.S:d with cake and
fruit for some small sufferer: Casting an
inqmrng glance at the miscellaneous wait
ing group she enters the wards and pass
Ing from bed to bed speaks cheering, appro-
pirate words to each occupant The opera
tons which, from want of space, have I'M
fortunately to be performed in the male
ward Immediately begin. The duchess
recognizes each case; and perceiving at
glance what instruments will be needed
holds them in readiness; and at times
her good nerve and steady. hand
help in the operation. Imperial and
royal relatives, ladies-in waiting, perhaps an
eminent physician on his travels or some
local surgeon, may be present, intently
watching this exceptionally endowed
couple, as with complete scientific knowl-
edge they adroitly cure or relieve the deli
cate organism under reatment: often seven
or eight operations are to be performed, keep
ing their royal highnesses necessarily
fully occupied until ten o'clock, when
they return home to breakfast Should,
however, there be sufficient vacant
beds for more patients, or if the
operations are long, the duke may be de-
tanned until twelve; his stay being often oc-
casioned as much by. kindness OF heart as
absolute necessity, and that in defiance of
the strain and fatigue of mind and body,
and of the fact of his being at Moran for the
benefit of his health"